Breakfast Quinoa Bowl

I've recently fell in love with quinoa. It's filling, yummy, and versatile and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or with dinner! Here's a quinoa breakfast bowl that I've been making lately:

Quinoa is great because it is very high in protein so it keeps you full for hours and coconut oil is seriously a miracle worker! Not only is it good for your skin and your hair, it's also a great addition to your diet. It's anti-microbial, can help prevent heart disease, lower cholesterol, and boost metabolism. {more info here}

What about you? Are you a fan of quinoa or coconut oil?

xoK
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On a Budget

1. I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks // Shopbop

2. Mac 'Styleseeker' Lipglass  // Nordstrom

3. Spike Stretch Bracelet // ASOS

4. Mossimo Black Olivette Snake Skin Tuxedo Slipper // Target

5. Chalkboard Spice Jar // Anthropologie

It's no secret that I love shopping. And clothes. And makeup. However, I am becoming more aware that I need to cut up put down the debit card and restrict my spending in order to save money for the future. However, I do enjoy a little treat every now and then.

What's my favorite of this list? Hands down, the snake skin loafers. Seriously, get in my closet.

xoK

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Quotable

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"Give me books, French wine, 
fruit, fine weather 
and a little music played out of doors 
by somebody I do not know." 

~ John Keats

xoK

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Boston Recap

Last weekend I went to Boston to visit two of my friends that live up there! Even though I had just visited in June, I wanted to squeeze one more trip in before summer comes to an end.

girl talk concert: beyond amazing // me and electra // cloudy saturday morning strolls through little italy // fashion truck at sowa: coolest things ever!

georgetown cupcake on newbury street {so delicious!}

more strolling through back bay // wine in the park // friends & snacks & games: perfect sunday // first night of boston restaurant week: me and jenny trying buffalo tongue at toro {side note: it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but I can't say I would ever eat it again!}

flew back just in time to have dinner with my dad and sister, then came home to these sitting on the front porch. august 20 is a tough day, and will always be a tough day. but family, friends and flowers always seem to help.

xoK

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8.20.09

Three years ago today, I lost a wonderfully beautiful and incredibly inspiring woman, my mother. 

In the notes app on my iPhone, I have the speech I gave at her funeral. It has misspellings and typo's but to me it's absolutely perfect and I love it.

When I took the picture of said speech on Thursday night, it said in the top left corner that it had been 1089 days since I last edited it on August 23, 2009. 1089 days, and yet, I can remember everything about that time like it was yesterday. I remember it being the night before her funeral, and I was sitting upstairs in my dad's room, frantically typing my thoughts as I spoke them out loud to him. Meanwhile, my very best friends, who had all traveled from all over the united states to be by my side, sat downstairs with pints upon pints of Ben & Jerry's, waiting patiently for me to finish writing my speech. 

That's what you do in life. You travel far and wide to be with the ones you love. And hopefully, you bring Ben & Jerry's.

xoK

Quotable

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xoK

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Trend Alert: BB Cream

BB Cream {otherwise known as Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm} is a new-to-the-US skincare product that has very quickly become the it product. Originally invented in the 1950's in Germany to mask redness in post-peel patients, these creams became extremely popular among Korean brans in 2005. Now these balms have come to the US and are here to stay.

Source 1 // 2

Combination of multiple skincare & makeup products all in one? Yes. Miracle worker? Well, that's what they're saying! 

So if you're anything like me, you're thinking, "I need to try this out, immediately." Well here are a few options to splurge on and a few options to save on! 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream {seen above} // Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm // stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm // boscia B.B. Cream // Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm

All found at Sephora

L'Oreal Youth Code BB Cream Illuminator // Garnier BB Cream // L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic BB Cream // Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 

All found at Target

Have you tried BB Creams? If you have, which one is your favorite? 

If you haven't, are you going to try out this new skincare trend?

xoK
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Falling for Fall Fashion

As much as I love summer, I cannot help but be so excited to unpack my fall clothes. Here are a few things I'm especially looking forward to: 

// trousers //

// loafers //

// scarves //

// boyfriend jeans //

// blazers //

// sweaters //

// and leggings //

What are you looking forward to this fall?

xo-K

{Images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 }

Insta-Follow: Lauren Conrad

@laurenconrad

xoK
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Quotable

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xoK
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August Birchbox Haul

This afternoon I received the pictures I ordered from Snapfish over the weekend, the latest Glamour magazine, and the August Birchbox! Fun! Inside I found:

Cleanwell ~ Individual Hand Sanitizing Wipes

DDF ~ Brightening Cleanser

Juicy Couture ~ Viva la Juicy La Fleur sample

theBalm cosmetics ~ Stainiac in Beauty Queen

Schick ~ Hydro Silk razor

This month, Birchbox is donating 15% of proceeds from the Birchbox Shop to Pencils of Promise, with the goal of building a school in Central America. Go stock up and support this wonderful cause! 

xoK
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Fall 5K

I've been throwing around the idea of running a 5K when the weather cools down a bit! Here's three that I've found that would work with my schedule:

Great Prostate Cancer Challenge 

Nearly two-thirds of funds raised by the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge stay within the community and are used toward ending prostate cancer by providing education, free testing and research. For more information and to find a GPCC event in your city click here. 

Annapolis Run for Shelter 

Money raised benefits the Annapolis Lighthouse Shelter, an organization dedicated to providing shelter, food, clothing and job training to homeless individuals and families and those who are at risk of becoming homeless. 

Baltimore Running Festival 5K 

This festival has about 30 charities participating in the event. I would probably choose to donate to The One Love Foundation. Created in 2010 to honor the memory of Yeardley Reynolds Love, they are quickly becoming a leading resource and voice against Relationship Violence.

What about you? Have you started thinking about fall plans?

xoK

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Red, White, and Blue

{Red} 

Dress / {Net-a-Porter}

Lipstick / {Sephora}
Bangle /  {Endless}
Pumps / {Zara}

{White}
Earrings / {Nordstrom}
Pumps / {Vince Camuto}
Clutch / {Scoop NYC}
Dress / {Net-a-Porter}

{Blue}
Dress / {TopShop}
Pumps / {Asos}
Nail Polish / {Nordstrom}
Clutch / {Zara}

Go USA!!

xoK

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Quotable

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xoK

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H&M Home Collection Coming to the US

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It's official! According to WWD, the H&M Home Collection {which I previously posted about here} is coming to the US in early 2013. H&M will produce three main collections each season and will be introducing a large amount of accessories every two weeks.

Me and my debit card will be waiting!

xoK
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Music and Baking

Today was one of those days. Those days where you find yourself sitting in your cubicle, working out of six excel spreadsheets and four word documents, having a ginormous amount of phone messages and emails to return, and all you want to do is go back to sleep and start over.

After a satisfying spinning class {hello endorphins!} I came home, turned on Zac Brown Band, and made these Strawberry Shortcake Muffins from Dashing Dish:

Some days just call for some music and baking. 

xoK

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